Ribbon-roll clasp or guard.



T. H. O'BRIEN.

RIBBON ROLL CLASP 0R GUARD.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 27, 190B.

Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

1/93 Macao M W x a THE NORRIS psrsxs co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

@FFIQE.

THOMAS H. OBRIEN, OF FOND DU LAO, WISCONSIN.

RIBBON-ROLL CLASP OR GUARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 9, 1909.

Application filed May 27, 1908. Serial N 0. 435,299.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. OBRIEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fond du Lac, in the county of Fond du Lac and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ribbon- Roll Clasps or Guards, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in ribbon roll clasps or guards.

Objects of my invention are to prevent the liability of soiling or mutilating the ribbon, particularly in the exhibiting thereof or in the measuring off the same as in making sales therefrom to prevent the accidental unreeling or unwinding of the ribbon together with the paper-strip upon which the latter is usu ally laid in putting up the same in rolls, as in the event of the dropping of the ribbon-roll; to provide for the effective retention in place of the unreeled or bulk-portion of the ribbonroll after unreeling or measuring off portions thereof; and also to readily ascertain the width of the ribbon.

Said invention consists of certain structural features substantially as hereinafter fully disclosed and particularly pointed out by the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention: Figure 1 is a perspective view of aribbon-roll with said invention or clasp or guard applied thereto for practical use. Fig. 2 is a broken away view principally in section produced transversely of the clasp or guard. Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of the clasp or guard. Fig. 4 shows also perspective views of the principal parts or members thereof disassembled.

In the disclosure of my invention, I provide a clasp or guard 1 preferably of cardboard material and constituted of a base or lower flat-tube or pocket 1 and of an upper or superposed flat piece or member 1 of preferably double-thickness, having suitably at tached or fixed between its thicknesses endpieces or strips 1, with their free ends adapted to be tucked into, and thus removably secured in the ends of said flat-tube or pocket, and whereby is made provision for the application thereof to the roll of ribbon and interposed paper or other layer, which latter, however, is of greater width than the ribbon. The detachability of the loop-forming mem ber 1 is-of especial advantage in providing for readily applying or slipping the clasp or guard upon the ribbon-roll, as will presently more fully appear. The upper or superposed member 1 has extending longitudinally thereof a slit or slot 2, through which is passed the ribbon alone, and a central opening 2 produced in one wall of said slot or slit and forming the entrance thereto for the rpady insertion of the ribbon into said slit or s 0t.

In applying the clasp or guard to the ribbon-roll 4, the free extremities or terminals of the end-portions 1 of the member 1 are withdrawn from the flat-tube member or pocket 1 and the latter then introduced or inserted between the second or third ribbon and interposed paper layer below, which it will be noted may be very readily done. The member or piece 1 is now dis osed transversely of, or upon the ribbon-r01 and its end-piece is re-inserted into the ends of the pocket or fiat-tube member 1 thus connecting the clasp or guard to said roll. The ribbon having thus been placed, with the paper strip to the depth of several layers as above im lied, within the passage 3 formed between t e pocket or tube-member 1 and the superposed member 1 the free end of said ribbon is alone next inserted through the opening 2" of the latter member, whence it may be readily passed or inserted finally into the slot or slit 2 for grasping as in unreeling or unwinding the ribbon from the roll. In putting up the roll or ribbon as stock or on sale, suitably gras or hold it with the clasp or guard placed two or three inches from the end of the ribbon and fold under an inch or two of the ribbon, and then move or slide the clasp or guard as far as the fold in the ribbon will allow, when the clasp will be come effective for securing the ribbon-end in place no pins or like means thus being used to secure the ribbon-end against release and the unreeling of the ribbon. Also, the ribbon end may be readily engaged or grasped by the hand and, by the simple act of drawing thereon, and with the other hand grasping the clasp or guard, the ribbon, with t e paper-strip, may be readily unreeled and yet, upon the release of the roll, or in the event of dropping 0f the same upon the store-counter or upon the floor, the ribbon-end will be still retamed in place and the ribbon together with the paper-strip be prevented from accidentally unreeling. Also it is noted that by the use of my invention, the employment of pins being dispensed with, the liability of puncturing or mutilating the ribbon from that cause is avoided, and also the soiling the ribbon, as would otherwise be the case, is overcome, as will be appreciated. It will be also observed that upon the superposed or upper slotted member 1 may be produced graduations answering to'what is'known as the French line-measure by which ribbons are usually sold, whereby the buyer 'or merchant using the device, may readily ascertain the number of lines which the ribbon measures in Width.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: r

1. A ribbon-roll clasp or guard effective for its retention upon the roll and to guard against accidental" unreeling of the ribbon, said clasp or guard having a passage for the conjoint reception of the ribbon and paper strip layers, and an additional passage for the reception of the ribbon alone, constituted of a slitted or slotted member, having therein an entrance-opening for the slot or slit of said member.

2. A clasp of the character described, em ployed in connection with a ribbon-roll having a paper-layer between its coils of reater width than that of the ribbon, sai clasp having a passage for the conjoint reception of the ribbon and paper-stri layers and an additional passage conforma le to the width of,

and for the reception of the ribbon alone, and

the ribbon and paper-strip layers, and one of said members having a passage for the reception of the ribbon alone, said last named member having its ends tucked into the ends of the other member.

4. A ribbon-roll clasp or guard effective for its retention upon the roll and to guard against involuntary unreeling of the ribbon, and comprising a tubular member, a second member, and end-forming members tucked into said tubular member and said second member, said second member having a slit or slot for the reception of the ribbon-layer alone, said first two referred to members having a passage between them for the coni jolnt reception of the ribbon and paperstrip layers.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS H. OBRIEN. Witnesses:

F. W. SHADBQURNE, TESSIE NORMILE. 

